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The Huron Carol
An illustrated edition of the seventeenth-century Canadian Christmas carol that places the Nativity story in a Huron Indian setting.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Jean de Brébeuf
9 books8 followersSaint Jean de Brébeuf, SJ
He joined the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1617 and was ordained a priest in 1622. He became a missionary in New France (present-day Canada) where he was tortured and murdered by the Iroquois in 1649, thus becoming a martyr. He was beatified in 1925 and canonized a saint in 1930.
He joined the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1617 and was ordained a priest in 1622. He became a missionary in New France (present-day Canada) where he was tortured and murdered by the Iroquois in 1649, thus becoming a martyr. He was beatified in 1925 and canonized a saint in 1930.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 22, 2018
Beautiful illustrations show the Huron Carol written by a 17th century missionary, blending a story of the Native Huron people with the story of the nativity. The illustrations are beautiful, they bring this 3 star read up to 4 stars for us. We loved the borders of angels and silver birch bark, the beautiful colours and snow swirling scenes, there'sso much to look at, the pictures are really magical. An interesting historical page, carol lyrics and sheet music included in the back pages.
Many thanks to goodreads friend Abigail for bringing this to our attention, and I would highly recommend reading Abigails more detailed review and taking a peek at Abigail's Christmas carol shelf if you are interested in reading more books based on carols, we have found much inspiration there!
Many thanks to goodreads friend Abigail for bringing this to our attention, and I would highly recommend reading Abigails more detailed review and taking a peek at Abigail's Christmas carol shelf if you are interested in reading more books based on carols, we have found much inspiration there!
December 11, 2019
Beautifully illustrated in line with the verses! Music included for piano and guitar.
March 5, 2024
Around 1640, Jesuit missionary Father Jean de Bréboeuf composed the hymn Jesous Ahatonhia (which means Jesus, he is born in English) as a retelling of the Nativity in the Wyandot language of the Hurons, with which de Bréboeuf was trying to present the story of Jesus' birth in traditional Wendat terms and using the traditional French folksong Une jeune pucelle as musical accompaniment. Much more commonly known as the Huron Carol, all of the English language versions thereof I have found in picture book form to date (and yes, including this here offering, including Frances Tyrrell's 1991 The Huron Carol) are (unfortunately) not in any way actual and bona fide translations of Jesous Ahatonhia but feature instead the 1926 rather loose (and sadly also rather patronising and with instances of cultural and ethnic stereotyping) English language adaptation of Jesous Ahatonhia by Jesse Edgar Middleton, and where God is known as Gitchi Manitou (an Algonquian and not in fact a Huron/Wendat term at all), where the infant Jesus is born in a lodge of broken bark, where the strangers who are first drawn to the child by angels are hunters, rather than shepherds and where there are three First Nations chiefs from afar bringing gifts of fox and beaver pelt, rather than the more traditional offerings of gold, frankincense and myrrh presented by three kings, by three magi.
But yes, after locating both Jean de Bréboeuf's original Wyandot text of Jesous Ahatonhia and a direct English language translation of this online, I was not only majorly surprised at just how very much different the latter is to Middleton's adaptation (to The Huron Carol), I also have noticed that Jesous Ahatonhia is not only much more reflective and philosophical but is also considerably more respectful and less patronising than what Middleton penned in 1926 (and that Middleton's religious and romanticised historical view of the Hurons, of First Nations individuals in general as uneducated and heathen "children" needing to be saved and evangelised is outdated and thus warrants explanation and discussion when presenting The Huron Carol as a Christmas hymn and even more so since Jean de Bréboeuf's original Jesous Ahatonhia in the Wyandot language does NOT to and for me show Jesse Edgar Middleton's denigration of Huron, of First Nations spirituality, culture and belief and is in my opinion therefore much better and also much more tolerant and respectful than that well-known and universally famous but as such also pretty decidedly problematic and issue heavy 1926 adaptation known as the Huron Carol).
And while I do in fact and actually understand why Frances Tyrrell is using Edgar Jesse Middleton's and not Jean de Bréboeuf's text in The Huron Carol (as Middleton's lyrics are lyrical, caressing and with just enough exoticism to be intriguing, the above mentioned issues with stereotyping and patronising notwithstanding) and that her accompanying artwork is both spectacular and also presents a visually authentic and realistic portrait of First Nations life and culture, well, at the very least, Tyrrell should be pointing out in her author's note about Jean de Bréboeuf both how different his Jesous Ahatonhia is to Edgar Jesse Middleton's adaptation and to also be including both the entirety of Jesous Ahatonhia in both Wyandot and in a direct English translation alongside of the musical score she does provide at the back of The Huron Carol (and considering that I have been able to locate the full lyrics of Jesous Ahatonhia in Wyandot, English and French online and have also read that some congregations both Catholic and Protestant are in fact no longer even using the Middleton adaptation, I frankly claim total BS to Frances Tyrrell's claims in The Huron Carol that the original Jean de Bréboeuf lyrics for Jesous Ahatonhia do not seemingly exist anymore).
Finally, just to also say that I still do recommend Francess Tyrrell's The Huron Carol but with the caveat that in particular if The Huron Carol is to be used with and for children, Jean de Bréboeuf's Wyandot text and the full English translation of Jesous Ahatonhia should also be considered (easily found online) and it should also be discussed that many of Jesse Edgar Middleton's descriptions of First Nations culture and lore in The Huron Carol are problematic at best and sometimes even factually wrong.
But yes, after locating both Jean de Bréboeuf's original Wyandot text of Jesous Ahatonhia and a direct English language translation of this online, I was not only majorly surprised at just how very much different the latter is to Middleton's adaptation (to The Huron Carol), I also have noticed that Jesous Ahatonhia is not only much more reflective and philosophical but is also considerably more respectful and less patronising than what Middleton penned in 1926 (and that Middleton's religious and romanticised historical view of the Hurons, of First Nations individuals in general as uneducated and heathen "children" needing to be saved and evangelised is outdated and thus warrants explanation and discussion when presenting The Huron Carol as a Christmas hymn and even more so since Jean de Bréboeuf's original Jesous Ahatonhia in the Wyandot language does NOT to and for me show Jesse Edgar Middleton's denigration of Huron, of First Nations spirituality, culture and belief and is in my opinion therefore much better and also much more tolerant and respectful than that well-known and universally famous but as such also pretty decidedly problematic and issue heavy 1926 adaptation known as the Huron Carol).
And while I do in fact and actually understand why Frances Tyrrell is using Edgar Jesse Middleton's and not Jean de Bréboeuf's text in The Huron Carol (as Middleton's lyrics are lyrical, caressing and with just enough exoticism to be intriguing, the above mentioned issues with stereotyping and patronising notwithstanding) and that her accompanying artwork is both spectacular and also presents a visually authentic and realistic portrait of First Nations life and culture, well, at the very least, Tyrrell should be pointing out in her author's note about Jean de Bréboeuf both how different his Jesous Ahatonhia is to Edgar Jesse Middleton's adaptation and to also be including both the entirety of Jesous Ahatonhia in both Wyandot and in a direct English translation alongside of the musical score she does provide at the back of The Huron Carol (and considering that I have been able to locate the full lyrics of Jesous Ahatonhia in Wyandot, English and French online and have also read that some congregations both Catholic and Protestant are in fact no longer even using the Middleton adaptation, I frankly claim total BS to Frances Tyrrell's claims in The Huron Carol that the original Jean de Bréboeuf lyrics for Jesous Ahatonhia do not seemingly exist anymore).
Finally, just to also say that I still do recommend Francess Tyrrell's The Huron Carol but with the caveat that in particular if The Huron Carol is to be used with and for children, Jean de Bréboeuf's Wyandot text and the full English translation of Jesous Ahatonhia should also be considered (easily found online) and it should also be discussed that many of Jesse Edgar Middleton's descriptions of First Nations culture and lore in The Huron Carol are problematic at best and sometimes even factually wrong.
November 19, 2018
Composed in the early 1640s by the Jesuit missionary Father Jean de Brébeuf, the hymn Jesous Ahantonhia ("Jesus, he is born") is a retelling of the Nativity story in the Wyandot/Huron language, one which seeks to present the story of Jesus' birth in indigenous Huron terms. In this version of the well-known tale, God is known as Gitchie Manitou, the Baby Jesus is born in a "lodge of broken bark," and the strangers who are first drawn to the child by angels are hunters, rather than shepherds. Three chiefs from afar brings gifts of fox and beaver pelt, rather than the more traditional offerings of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The hymn concludes with an invitation to the sons of Manitou, to "kneel before the radiant Boy / who brings you beauty, peace and joy."
The text of this beautiful picture-book presentation of de Brébeuf's hymn is taken from the English translation done in 1926 by J.E. Middleton. Each two-page spread features a verse of the hymn on one side, with a full-page illustration on the other. The accompanying music, with lyrics in English, Wyandot/Huron and French, is included at the rear of the book, along with a brief postscript describing the history of the Huron Carol. Having looked at Ian Wallace's picture-book presentation of this song back in 2010 ( The Huron Carol ), I have been meaning to track down this earlier version by Frances Tyrrell for some time. I'm glad I did, as the illustrations are simply lovely. The chilly wintry scenes are done in shades of blue and white, contrasting nicely with the warmer brown shades of the human figures. As she explains in her postscript, Tyrrell has been careful to create authentic scenes - her three chiefs from afar are arrayed in the regalia of the Kootenay, the Sioux, and the Shawnee, making them as 'exotic' to the Huron of the seventeenth century, as the three kings would have been to the people of the Near East in Jesus' day - while the borders around the blocks of text contain lovely depictions of the flora and fauna to be found in the region (Ontario) where the Huron lived. All in all, this presentation of The Huron Carol is worth seeking out, for anyone interested in picture-book versions of Christmas carols (a pet hobby of mine), or in indigenous versions of Christmas traditions.
The text of this beautiful picture-book presentation of de Brébeuf's hymn is taken from the English translation done in 1926 by J.E. Middleton. Each two-page spread features a verse of the hymn on one side, with a full-page illustration on the other. The accompanying music, with lyrics in English, Wyandot/Huron and French, is included at the rear of the book, along with a brief postscript describing the history of the Huron Carol. Having looked at Ian Wallace's picture-book presentation of this song back in 2010 ( The Huron Carol ), I have been meaning to track down this earlier version by Frances Tyrrell for some time. I'm glad I did, as the illustrations are simply lovely. The chilly wintry scenes are done in shades of blue and white, contrasting nicely with the warmer brown shades of the human figures. As she explains in her postscript, Tyrrell has been careful to create authentic scenes - her three chiefs from afar are arrayed in the regalia of the Kootenay, the Sioux, and the Shawnee, making them as 'exotic' to the Huron of the seventeenth century, as the three kings would have been to the people of the Near East in Jesus' day - while the borders around the blocks of text contain lovely depictions of the flora and fauna to be found in the region (Ontario) where the Huron lived. All in all, this presentation of The Huron Carol is worth seeking out, for anyone interested in picture-book versions of Christmas carols (a pet hobby of mine), or in indigenous versions of Christmas traditions.
December 10, 2021
Though the illustrations by Frances Tyrrell are gorgeous, this retelling of the bible story featuring Native Americans seems wrong.
I've never been a fan of Christian missionaries, and their attempts to force their beliefs on others, particularly a people who've had their culture, and sometimes their very lives, snuffed out by an unfeeling government.
Here are some blankets. Now, take part in our nativity play.
It all leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I've never been a fan of Christian missionaries, and their attempts to force their beliefs on others, particularly a people who've had their culture, and sometimes their very lives, snuffed out by an unfeeling government.
Here are some blankets. Now, take part in our nativity play.
It all leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
January 26, 2016
2016
A person doesn't have to be Christian, or even religious, to enjoy this book. The art is beautiful, and the history is rich. It's amazing to me that a Catholic missionary from that time period would bend the stories of his faith to meld with Huron beliefs. Impressive.
2024
Again, I enjoyed the history - a French missionary lived with the Hurons in the 1600s, but it still bothers me when missionaries work to convert people who already have their own religion and culture.
A person doesn't have to be Christian, or even religious, to enjoy this book. The art is beautiful, and the history is rich. It's amazing to me that a Catholic missionary from that time period would bend the stories of his faith to meld with Huron beliefs. Impressive.
2024
Again, I enjoyed the history - a French missionary lived with the Hurons in the 1600s, but it still bothers me when missionaries work to convert people who already have their own religion and culture.
June 23, 2024
Oh, those Normans ! When will they stop being so unstoppable ?!
If you need a refresher for the lyrics here they are :
‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
(also known as Huron Carol or Jesus He Is Born)
1. 'Twas in the moon of wintertime,
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wand'ring hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
2. Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapped His beauty 'round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh,
The angel song rang loud and high:
Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
3. The earliest moon of wintertime Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on The helpless Infant there.
The chiefs from far before Him knelt
With gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
4. Oh children of the forest free, Oh sons of Manitou,
The holy Child of earth and Heav'n Is born today for you. Come kneel before the radiant Boy,
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.
Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
“. This hymn was written by Fr. Jean de Brébeuf, a French missionary to the Huron (first nations / native American) people. He was eventually martyred for the faith by Iroquois during the Iroquois-Huron wars. "When the Japanese have a Christmas devotional booklet, Mary is a Japanese woman, and her Child is a Japanese boy. With that, they are confessing that He was born for them too. For that was the message of the angel, that He was born to be the Savior for all people, and all people means one of us ... and so whether it is in Papau New Guinea or Japan or among the Eskimos, when they think of the birth of the Savior they see Him as born one of them." - Dr. Norman Nagel, 22 Dec 2005. “
Words: Jean de Brébeuf, 1642.
Translated by Jesse Edgar Middleton, 1926.
Music: 'Huron Carol' or 'Jesous Ahatonia' or 'Une Jeunne Pucelle' traditional French, 1557.
Setting: John Murphy, 2008.
copyright: Music & Lyrics public domain.
This score is a part of the Open Hymnal Project, 2013 Revision.
—-Bruce Cockburn’s Wendat performance.
For his 1993 album, Christmas, Bruce Cockburn wanted to record a version of the Huron Carol.
But, aware of the problematic history of Jesse Middleton’s English translation,
he learned the original Wendat words instead.
https://youtu.be/hrd4Sw0peZg?si=gKDCp....
—-Huron Lyrics:
Ehstehn yayau deh tsaun we yisus ahattonnia
O na wateh wado:kwi nonnwa 'ndasqua entai
ehnau sherskwa trivota nonnwa 'ndi yaun rashata
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
Ayoki onki hm-ashe eran yayeh raunnaun
yauntaun kanntatya hm-deh 'ndyaun sehnsatoa ronnyaun
Waria hnawakweh tond Yosehf sataunn haronnyaun
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
Asheh kaunnta horraskwa deh ha tirri gwames
Tishyaun ayau ha'ndeh ta aun hwa ashya a ha trreh
aundata:kwa Tishyaun yayaun yaun n-dehta
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
(instrumental)
Dau yishyeh sta atyaun errdautau 'ndi Yisus
avwa tateh dn-deh Tishyaun stanshi teya wennyau
aha yaunna torrehntehn yataun katsyaun skehnn
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
Eyeh kwata tehnaunnte aheh kwashyehn ayehn
kiyeh kwanaun aukwayaun dehtsaun we 'ndeh adeh
tarrya diskwann aunkwe yishyehr eya ke naun sta
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
—-English Lyrics translated from Huron :
Have courage, you who are human beings: Jesus, he is born
The okie spirit who enslaved us has fled
Don't listen to him for he corrupts the spirits of our thoughts
Jesus, he is born
The okie spirits who live in the sky are coming with a message
They're coming to say, "Rejoice!
Mary has given birth. Rejoice!"
Jesus, he is born
Three men of great authority have left for the place of his birth
Tiscient, the star appearing over the horizon leads them there
That star will walk first on the bath to guide them
Jesus, he is born
The star stopped not far from where Jesus was born
Having found the place it said,
"Come this way"
Jesus, he is born
As they entered and saw Jesus they praised his name
They oiled his scalp many times, anointing his head
with the oil of the sunflower
Jesus, he is born
They say, "Let us place his name in a position of honour
Let us act reverently towards him for he comes to show us mercy
It is the will of the spirits that you love us, Jesus,
and we wish that we may be adopted into your family
Jesus, he is born
—-French lyrics. Jésus est né.
Father Jean de Brébeuf
Chrétiens, prenez courage
Jésus Sauveur est né
Du malin les ouvrages
Ajamais sont ruinés
Quand il chante merveille
A ces troublants appas
Ne pretez plus l'oreille
Jésus est né, in excelsis gloria!
Oyez cette nouvelle
Dont un ange est portuer
Oyez, âmes fidèles
Et dilatez vos coeurs
La Vierge dans l'étable
Entoure de ses bras
L'Enfant-Dieu adorable
Jésus est né, in excelsis gloria!
Voici que trois Rois Mages
Perdus en Orient
Déchiffrent ce message
Ecrit au firmament
L'astre nouveau les hante
Ils la suivrant là-bas
Cette étoile marhante
Jésus est né, in excelsis gloria!
Jésus leur met en tête
Que L'Etoile en la nuit
Qui jamais ne s'arrête
Les conduira vers Lui
Dans las nuit radieuse
En route ils son déjà
Ils vont l'âme joyeuse
Jésus est né, in excelsis gloria!
Pour l'enfant qui repose
Dans un petit berceau
Humblement ils déposent
Hommages et cadeaux
Comme eux, l'âme ravie
Chrétiens, suivons ses pas
Son amour nous convie
Jésus est né, in excelsis gloria!
——-
If you need a refresher for the lyrics here they are :
‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
(also known as Huron Carol or Jesus He Is Born)
1. 'Twas in the moon of wintertime,
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wand'ring hunters heard the hymn:
Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
2. Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapped His beauty 'round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh,
The angel song rang loud and high:
Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
3. The earliest moon of wintertime Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on The helpless Infant there.
The chiefs from far before Him knelt
With gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
4. Oh children of the forest free, Oh sons of Manitou,
The holy Child of earth and Heav'n Is born today for you. Come kneel before the radiant Boy,
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.
Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.
“. This hymn was written by Fr. Jean de Brébeuf, a French missionary to the Huron (first nations / native American) people. He was eventually martyred for the faith by Iroquois during the Iroquois-Huron wars. "When the Japanese have a Christmas devotional booklet, Mary is a Japanese woman, and her Child is a Japanese boy. With that, they are confessing that He was born for them too. For that was the message of the angel, that He was born to be the Savior for all people, and all people means one of us ... and so whether it is in Papau New Guinea or Japan or among the Eskimos, when they think of the birth of the Savior they see Him as born one of them." - Dr. Norman Nagel, 22 Dec 2005. “
Words: Jean de Brébeuf, 1642.
Translated by Jesse Edgar Middleton, 1926.
Music: 'Huron Carol' or 'Jesous Ahatonia' or 'Une Jeunne Pucelle' traditional French, 1557.
Setting: John Murphy, 2008.
copyright: Music & Lyrics public domain.
This score is a part of the Open Hymnal Project, 2013 Revision.
—-Bruce Cockburn’s Wendat performance.
For his 1993 album, Christmas, Bruce Cockburn wanted to record a version of the Huron Carol.
But, aware of the problematic history of Jesse Middleton’s English translation,
he learned the original Wendat words instead.
https://youtu.be/hrd4Sw0peZg?si=gKDCp....
—-Huron Lyrics:
Ehstehn yayau deh tsaun we yisus ahattonnia
O na wateh wado:kwi nonnwa 'ndasqua entai
ehnau sherskwa trivota nonnwa 'ndi yaun rashata
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
Ayoki onki hm-ashe eran yayeh raunnaun
yauntaun kanntatya hm-deh 'ndyaun sehnsatoa ronnyaun
Waria hnawakweh tond Yosehf sataunn haronnyaun
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
Asheh kaunnta horraskwa deh ha tirri gwames
Tishyaun ayau ha'ndeh ta aun hwa ashya a ha trreh
aundata:kwa Tishyaun yayaun yaun n-dehta
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
(instrumental)
Dau yishyeh sta atyaun errdautau 'ndi Yisus
avwa tateh dn-deh Tishyaun stanshi teya wennyau
aha yaunna torrehntehn yataun katsyaun skehnn
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
Eyeh kwata tehnaunnte aheh kwashyehn ayehn
kiyeh kwanaun aukwayaun dehtsaun we 'ndeh adeh
tarrya diskwann aunkwe yishyehr eya ke naun sta
Iesus Ahattonnia, Ahattonnia, Iesus Ahattonnia
—-English Lyrics translated from Huron :
Have courage, you who are human beings: Jesus, he is born
The okie spirit who enslaved us has fled
Don't listen to him for he corrupts the spirits of our thoughts
Jesus, he is born
The okie spirits who live in the sky are coming with a message
They're coming to say, "Rejoice!
Mary has given birth. Rejoice!"
Jesus, he is born
Three men of great authority have left for the place of his birth
Tiscient, the star appearing over the horizon leads them there
That star will walk first on the bath to guide them
Jesus, he is born
The star stopped not far from where Jesus was born
Having found the place it said,
"Come this way"
Jesus, he is born
As they entered and saw Jesus they praised his name
They oiled his scalp many times, anointing his head
with the oil of the sunflower
Jesus, he is born
They say, "Let us place his name in a position of honour
Let us act reverently towards him for he comes to show us mercy
It is the will of the spirits that you love us, Jesus,
and we wish that we may be adopted into your family
Jesus, he is born
—-French lyrics. Jésus est né.
Father Jean de Brébeuf
Chrétiens, prenez courage
Jésus Sauveur est né
Du malin les ouvrages
Ajamais sont ruinés
Quand il chante merveille
A ces troublants appas
Ne pretez plus l'oreille
Jésus est né, in excelsis gloria!
Oyez cette nouvelle
Dont un ange est portuer
Oyez, âmes fidèles
Et dilatez vos coeurs
La Vierge dans l'étable
Entoure de ses bras
L'Enfant-Dieu adorable
Jésus est né, in excelsis gloria!
Voici que trois Rois Mages
Perdus en Orient
Déchiffrent ce message
Ecrit au firmament
L'astre nouveau les hante
Ils la suivrant là-bas
Cette étoile marhante
Jésus est né, in excelsis gloria!
Jésus leur met en tête
Que L'Etoile en la nuit
Qui jamais ne s'arrête
Les conduira vers Lui
Dans las nuit radieuse
En route ils son déjà
Ils vont l'âme joyeuse
Jésus est né, in excelsis gloria!
Pour l'enfant qui repose
Dans un petit berceau
Humblement ils déposent
Hommages et cadeaux
Comme eux, l'âme ravie
Chrétiens, suivons ses pas
Son amour nous convie
Jésus est né, in excelsis gloria!
——-
January 14, 2020
A beautifully illustrated version of the seventeen-century hymn, written by a French priest in Canada who wanted to help the Huron people be able to understand the nativity in terms they would understand from their own religious traditions.
January 18, 2026
I received this book along with a clay Nativity set featuring the Huron Indians. The illustrations are just beautiful. It includes sheet music and lyrics to play on the piano. There is one surviving verse in the old Huron language included.
January 29, 2018
Beautiful lyrics and the illustrations are lovely!
August 13, 2022
Beautiful. St. Jean de Brébeuf ora pro nobis 🙏
September 26, 2026
This is a wonderful story! I loved the words and pictures, which fit Jesus into the Huron culture, as well as the story behind the song.
December 14, 2009
Written by Jean de Brebeuf, a Jesuit missionary at Sainte-Marie among the Huron in Canada, during 1943. Father Jean de Brebeuf worked among the Huron Indians in their village where now stands Midland Ontario Canada.
During his years he translated many books into the Huron Language. He was killed after an Iroquois raid. The Iroquois forced the Huron from their homes but no matter their grief the Huron continued to sing. The Huron Carol was sung in the Huron language for more than a hundred years, and then translated to French and English.
Frances Tyrrell, the Illustrator, captured that time period through the remarkable artwork.
The Huron Carol is a wonderful Christmas read.
“Christmas to me is a time to remember that all over the world there are many people that fit together in this giant puzzle we called the world.”
During his years he translated many books into the Huron Language. He was killed after an Iroquois raid. The Iroquois forced the Huron from their homes but no matter their grief the Huron continued to sing. The Huron Carol was sung in the Huron language for more than a hundred years, and then translated to French and English.
Frances Tyrrell, the Illustrator, captured that time period through the remarkable artwork.
The Huron Carol is a wonderful Christmas read.
“Christmas to me is a time to remember that all over the world there are many people that fit together in this giant puzzle we called the world.”
December 7, 2008
Father Jean de Brebeuf, a French Jesuit missionary, lived among the Huron people, in what would now be Ontario, Canada, in the early 1600's. In bringing the story of the nativity to the Hurons, de Brebeuf composed a carol for the Huron language which was sung by the Huron for over one hundred years before being translated to French and then English.
This particular version of the telling of the Huron carol is beautifully illustrated by Frances Tyrrell, recreating the Huron clothing and dwellings of 1648. A song in the back of the book gives the verses in Huron, 18th century French, and English.
This particular version of the telling of the Huron carol is beautifully illustrated by Frances Tyrrell, recreating the Huron clothing and dwellings of 1648. A song in the back of the book gives the verses in Huron, 18th century French, and English.
March 6, 2019
Ms. Tyrrell has beautifully illustrated Father Jean de Brebeuf's Christmas carol. de Brebeuf was a French missionary to the Huron Indians in the early 1600's. He told them the story of Christ's birth by relating it to the Huron's way of life. Heavenly Father is Gitchi Manitou. The Christ child is born in a broken bark lodge and wrapped in a "ragged robe of rabbit skin". The shepherds are hunters, and the wise men are Indian chiefs. These chiefs bring Jesus fox and beaver pelts for gifts.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
December 12, 2014
This book is a balm to the soul.
The hymn is beautiful in and of itself, but Frances Tyrrell's illustrations do a lot to make the hymn understandable to the younger crowd.
Don't miss this one.
Of course I have more to say about it, you can read it here.
The hymn is beautiful in and of itself, but Frances Tyrrell's illustrations do a lot to make the hymn understandable to the younger crowd.
Don't miss this one.
Of course I have more to say about it, you can read it here.
December 18, 2014
Absolutely love this song and sang it with my class for our school Christmas concert this year. They loved it as well and we read this together after the performance. They loved watching the pictures as they heard the song sung to them instead of always being the ones to sing it. It is a wonderful story.
December 2, 2015
Beautiful artwork illustrates this favourite Canadian Carol. Includes music, and the story behind the Carol.
December 14, 2015
Colonialism at its finest. A lovely book and beautiful song.
December 29, 2016
I love to sing the Huron Carol and illustrations in the book are beautifully done. The afterward with the story of the carol completes a lovely picture book.
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